Psalm 37 (cont’d)
There aren’t multiple paths to heaven so don’t fall for that lie. The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ our Lord. The one true God is Jehovah and that is his name. Satan has sponsored all the fake religions and false gods throughout history to confuse man and lead him away from the truth of God and he’s been very successful at it. All these fake religions have one thing in common; they have no proof to back them up. These fake religions will never allow their adherents to question the tenets of their faith or they would learn the truth. Instead fake religions punish anyone who gets out of line. On the other hand, the Christian God Jehovah has given us our Holy Bible that does prove God is who he says he is. God made the Bible two-thirds prophecy to prove he is God and the author of history. All religions are mutually exclusive because they all claim they are the one and only true religion. The truth is, only one religion can be true so which one has the proof to back up its claim? Only Christianity has an indisputable body of evidence to prove it’s the one true religion and Jehovah is the one true God.
John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
The Bible contains over 1000 prophecies, over 500 of which have already been fulfilled and documented as fact. No prophecy has failed to come true in its proper time so we’re talking about a 100% prophecy success rate so far. We can have confidence that the other 500 prophecies in the Bible will also be fulfilled at their appointed times. Prophecy is nothing more than history written in advance and only the one true God of creation can give us prophecies and then see that they are all fulfilled. All the fake religions that have ever existed throughout human history don’t have a single fulfilled prophecy between them. How could they since they aren’t from God?
Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2 Corinthians 4:4 – Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
1 John 5:19 – We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
James 4:7 – Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Satan created his fake religions to compete with God for the souls of men. Since God has given us his word Satan also had to come up with holy books for his fake religions. The difference is Satan’s fake holy books try to mimic God but in reality they are filled with platitudes and mumbo-jumbo that sounds good but signifies nothing. The Holy Bible is a living thing but the holy books of all the fake religions are not only without a shred of proof, they are lifeless. The testimony of millions of Christians confirm the Bible is God’s Word and that it has changed their lives for the better. In the Bible Jehovah says to check him out and see that he is truth. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
1 John 3:8 – He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Revelations 20:15 – And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:13 – The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judges, each according to his works.
Hebrews 10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
So as we complete the second half of our study of Psalm 37 let’s keep in mind that every positive statement that God makes in the Bible will come true. God does not boast or brag. God always gives us the truth of any matter. God only needs to say something one time for it to come to pass yet God chooses to continually use repetition as a means to drive home the truth of God. When nonbelievers stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne judgment they have no excuse for not knowing the will of God and the punishment for disobedience. If someone tells Jesus they didn’t know what to do Jesus can simply ask them, “have you read Psalm 37?” If they say no Jesus can say “why not, I provided it to you”? If they say “yes” Jesus can say, “then why didn’t you obey me?” Either way, the nonbeliever is condemned and will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
Psalm 37:21-22 – The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
God has shown us mercy by forgiving our sins and giving generously to us when we ask him in prayer. As the righteous children of God we are to emulate God by loving mercy and doing good works. God repeats again here that believers will be blessed and will live in the millennial kingdom on earth for 1000 years and forever in heaven. God repeats the nonbeliever will wind up in hell for their sins.
Psalm 37:23-26 – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging for bread.
God guides the believer who is in fellowship with God. God watches over the believer with delight and although God allows us to face hardship in order to purify our faith it is never more than we can bear. We are always safely in God’s hands. We just need to trust that God is watching over us and providing for us. It has never been proven otherwise.
Psalm 37:27-29 – Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.
God says three times in the verses above that believers live forever in his presence. When God says something more than once it’s important and we are to take notice. When God says the same thing three times in the span of three verses it’s like God screaming at the top of his lungs. God again declares for the umpteenth time that nonbelievers will die and go to hell (be cut off).
Psalm 30-33 – The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
As long as the believer abides in God’s Word he is blessed by God and protected from harm. God assures the believer that he will not face the wrath of God at the judgment. Those who do evil will always seek to destroy the children of God but will not succeed.
Psalm 37:34-36 – Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
All believers are to be obedient to God and watch for the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth; when believers will inherit the earth during the millennial kingdom of God. We shall see nonbelievers go to the pit. In the last days evildoers will appear to flourish on the earth but it will only last a brief time before God removes them from the earth.
Psalm 37:37-38 – Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
We should model the life of a true believer and obedient man of God. God again assures us the unrepentant sinner will die and be cast into hell for eternity. God keeps saying this over and over.
Psalm 37:39-40 – But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.
God is not saying believers will not be persecuted and possibly suffer death at the hands of evil men. God is saying the believer’s eternal soul is in God’s hands and whatever happens to us physically on this earth our eternal future in heaven with God is secure so we’re not to worry about anything.
In the second half of Psalm 37 (verses 20-40) God continues to juxtapose the promised blessings of God for all believers versus the promised curses of God for nonbelievers who reject God’s grace. God uses this literary device often in the Bible, especially in the wisdom literature of Proverbs and Psalms. It’s a good way of clearly depicting the pros and cons of the decision we all must make. In the first half of Psalm 37 it was evenly split between sharing the blessings of God for believers and proclaiming the curses of God for the nonbeliever at eleven apiece. In my evaluation of the second half of Psalm 37 I see God starting to focus more on his promised blessings (nineteen) and less on his curses (six). You can only tell someone they’re going to hell so many times and in so many ways before the effectiveness of your message is lost. Focusing on rewards is always more effective than focusing on punishment.
Isaiah 1:18 – Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Psalm 34:8 – Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Jeremiah 17:7 – Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.
Choosing heaven over hell is a no-brainer once you weigh all the evidence and see the benefits of each choice. I find it amazing that the vast majority of the human race will take the path that leads them straight to hell when the evidence is clear that they shouldn’t go down that road. Some people will still reject God out of pride and arrogance even when they know the truth of God. It’s a testimony to the power of Satan and a warning to all believers to abide in Jesus Christ for protection. Satan truly is the god of this world and he will drag most of the human race with him to the pit. Don’t be one of them.
Psalm 86:13 – For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol (hell).
The word of God is a living thing. Psalm 37 was written by an unnamed man of God over 2500 years ago as he was moved by the Holy Spirit and its message is just as relevant today as the day it was penned. The truth of God’s Word is everlasting. Psalm 37 is a very powerful and effective proclamation from God to all men, saint and sinner alike, of what is to come. Believers should read Psalm 37 often to keep their faith strong and vibrant (repetition is good!). I’m not a Bible scholar but I do consider myself to be a spiritually mature Christian and I’ve added my thoughts about each verse of Psalm 37. There are people who are more spiritually aware than I am but there are also many more who aren’t. The point is, no two people are at the same place on their walk with God so everyone’s perspective on the truth of God is important and adds value to the collective study of God’s Word. This blog site is all about sharing God’s Word to encourage others to also seek God.
Psalm 62:1-2 – Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation; He is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
The repetition in Psalm 37 proves beyond any doubt that those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will live with God in heaven forever. What is also an undisputable fact is that everyone who rejects God’s saving grace will die in their sin and go straight to hell upon their death. On the last Day Jesus will have an angel cast all nonbelievers into the lake of fire for all eternity. God’s Word always comes true. The only thing in life we can all count on is the truth of God. God cannot lie. God is ever faithful. The truth of God’s Word has never been broken and never will be. You have my personal testimony and the testimonies of millions of other people are on record. The final decision whether to serve God or Satan is yours alone to make, and you must make it, or it will be made for you. Will you choose to join me in heaven to worship the Lord or will you join Satan and all his demons in hell?